Making change happen. What can governments do to strengthen forest producer organizations?

This paper was born of a desire to better understand what governments can do to improve the enabling environment for FPOs. An initial paper was presented and discussed at a thematic session focusing on the enabling environment for FPOs during the International Conference on Forest Producer Organizations held in Guilin, China, in November 2013.
This paper sets out to answer the following broad question: How can governments and international agencies most usefully encourage the creation and development of effective FPOs?
Drawing on a range of sources and practical experience, with particular attention to the
presentations, discussions and recommendations of the International Conference on Forest
Producer Organizations, the paper contributes to a conceptual framework to assist countries in defining and implementing policies and tools to support effective FPOs. At the same time, the paper is designed to help focus the work of development assistance organizations such as FAO and Tropenbos International, partnerships like the FFF, and other agencies in supporting countries to pursue the sustainable management of community and family forests.